IN OUR OPINION

Pointing fingers and getting nowhere

Published: Monday, July 29, 2013 at 6:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, July 27, 2013 at 11:48 p.m.

You don’t have to look far for evidence of a dysfunctional U.S. House of Representatives.

Top House Republicans don’t plan on considering the comprehensive immigration reform bill passed by the Senate.

Bipartisan support doesn’t matter when a conservative primary challenge is the main concern for Republicans from gerrymandered districts.

Exhibit A here locally is Rep. Ted Yoho, R-Gainesville. He ousted longtime Rep. Cliff Stearns in a primary last year and now appears to be making sure that he isn’t outflanked on the right in the next election.

Yoho told the Star-Banner last week that he doesn’t expect the Senate bill to come through the House.

“My constituents have made it overwhelmingly clear to me that they don’t like the Senate bill, they want secure borders now, and no amnesty,” he said. “I agree with them.”

His comments fail to acknowledge about $38 billion in border security funding in the Senate bill. They also raise the question: What constituents is he talking about?

Last month, Yoho participated in an immigration summit in Marion County that included religious and community leaders who support immigration reform. The Interfaith Alliance for Immigrant Justice rallied Wednesday outside Yoho’s Gainesville office to urge his support.

Yoho’s weekly newsletter reveals the kind of feedback he’s listening to instead. Even as a new National Journal poll shows most Americans oppose repealing the Affordable Care Act, respondents to Yoho’s email survey listed a repeal as their top priority.

It’s that kind of echo chamber that leads Yoho and other House Republicans to waste time making symbolic votes rather than getting anything done. Last week, it was voting to delay the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate.

House Republicans have tried to dismantle the act 39 times in three years ­— yet have failed to advance any alternative plan.

It’s a statement that Yoho should heed himself. While some House Republicans this week took a tentative step toward offering citizenship to immigrants brought illegally to the U.S. as children, that only begins to address the issue.

There are 11 million immigrants in the U.S. illegally, and inaction won’t make them or the issue go away.

<p>You don't have to look far for evidence of a dysfunctional U.S. House of Representatives.</p><p>Top House Republicans don't plan on considering the comprehensive immigration reform bill passed by the Senate. </p><p>Bipartisan support doesn't matter when a conservative primary challenge is the main concern for Republicans from gerrymandered districts.</p><p>Exhibit A here locally is Rep. Ted Yoho, R-Gainesville. He ousted longtime Rep. Cliff Stearns in a primary last year and now appears to be making sure that he isn't outflanked on the right in the next election.</p><p>Yoho told the Star-Banner last week that he doesn't expect the Senate bill to come through the House.</p><p>“My constituents have made it overwhelmingly clear to me that they don't like the Senate bill, they want secure borders now, and no amnesty,” he said. “I agree with them.”</p><p>His comments fail to acknowledge about $38 billion in border security funding in the Senate bill. They also raise the question: What constituents is he talking about?</p><p>Last month, Yoho participated in an immigration summit in Marion County that included religious and community leaders who support immigration reform. The Interfaith Alliance for Immigrant Justice rallied Wednesday outside Yoho's Gainesville office to urge his support.</p><p>Yoho's weekly newsletter reveals the kind of feedback he's listening to instead. Even as a new National Journal poll shows most Americans oppose repealing the Affordable Care Act, respondents to Yoho's email survey listed a repeal as their top priority.</p><p>It's that kind of echo chamber that leads Yoho and other House Republicans to waste time making symbolic votes rather than getting anything done. Last week, it was voting to delay the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate.</p><p>House Republicans have tried to dismantle the act 39 times in three years ­— yet have failed to advance any alternative plan.</p><p>Opposition to compromise doomed the farm bill, which Yoho supported. </p><p>Yoho told the Wall Street Journal this week that outside conservative groups such as the Heritage Foundation helped kill the bill despite conservative provisions.</p><p>“They're overlooking what we're here for,” he said. “We're here to legislate.”</p><p>It's a statement that Yoho should heed himself. While some House Republicans this week took a tentative step toward offering citizenship to immigrants brought illegally to the U.S. as children, that only begins to address the issue.</p><p>There are 11 million immigrants in the U.S. illegally, and inaction won't make them or the issue go away.</p>